Author: Dose

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Matthew Schaefer has just realized that Patrick Roy was a great goalkeeper

The youngsters who are now 18 were theoretically born in 2007; in 2007, Patrick Roy had been retired as a hockey player for four years. He’d also had time to win his first Memorial Cup with the Quebec Remparts.That’s a long time, though.So that means that 18-year-old Matthew Schaefer was too young to understand just how good Roy was when he was wearing the uniforms of the Habs and the Avalanche. How true is that? Jonathan Bernier, who spoke to the young man on the heels of the NHL prospects showcase, asked him about the man who will be his first NHL coach.

And the young man admitted that it had taken him a while to understand just how legendary Roy’s NHL career had been.

[content-ads]The young man admitted that he’d “heard” that Roy had been a great goalie. How did he figure it out?

Recently, I went to the Upper Deck offices. The place was full of his memorabilia. Even his goalie gear was there.

–

Matthew Schaefer

He says that’s when it hit him. And far be it from me to play the boomer this morning, since there are legends too that I’m sure I’m underestimating, but it seems to me that the young man should have figured it out before this.Ultimately, it’s nobig deal. But it’s still notable for a kid who eats hockey three times a day and as a snack.[spacer title=’Overtime’]- Ouch.

– Speaking of the Islanders.

– It’s true that he often says the F-word.

– Please note:

– Of note.

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Mason McTavish: it’s a good time to hear from him!

Now that the Habs have the means to fulfill their ambitions on the free-agent market (room under the ceiling and assets to give to other teams), Kent Hughes can step onto the dance floor. The question, of course, remains the same as before: will the Canadiens’ GM find a dance partner who can offer him what he’s looking for? Because dancing alone is a lot less fun. In an ideal world ,the Canadiens wouldn’t have to pay too much to uproot Mason McTavish from Anaheim, but will it happen? On Friday’s 32 Thoughts, Elliotte Friedman talked about the Ducks’ player. But since Carey Price was still a member of the Canadiens, that may have been the talk of the town What we understand is that, at the moment, Pat Verbeek’s Ducks aren’t crazy about offering the player a bridge contract.

[content-ads]But the question is, will he be traded? And in fact, it looks like the situation hasn’t changed too much since the GMs met this week in Detroit: teams are holding their breath in case McTavish becomes available, which isn’t necessarily likely at the moment. But Pat Verbeek is a patient guy. He can stretch out his “war” with the player because he’s not afraid to do so, but also because his club isn’t going to be fighting for the Stanley Cup in 2026. It’s also worth noting that, in the event of a deal in Montreal, one wonders how much the Canadiens could afford to pay McTavish in the long term. The club has the ceiling for a bridge contract, but long-term? That’s an open question.[spacer title=’Overtime’]- It has the advantage of being clear.

– Indeed.

– Interesting.

– To read.

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Jared McCann: the Canadiens have the space under the ceiling to go get him

Now that Carey Price is gone, the Canadiens’ off-season can continue. As our colleague Maxime Truman explained last month, we can expect the Canadiens to make a second trade, taking advantage of the opportunity offered by the departure of Carey Price’s contract.The Canadiens didn’t do all this just to avoid using the space under the ceiling…right?right?Obviously, I don’t need to tell you that all eyes are on the second-center position. More than ever, we’re wondering who’s going to fill that role, and right now, the club can look at the transaction market. They may also be looking in Russia, but I don’t know how interested they really are in Evgeni Kuznetsov…

What you need to know is that the Habs have more room under the ceiling than you might think. After all, PuckPedia may talk about $4.57 million, but… But that takes into account Oliver Kapanen as the 23rd guy, while the Habs can roll with 22. It also takes into account Kaapo Kahkonen instead of Jakub Dobes. Plus, if the Habs get a player elsewhere, either via trade, the other club can withhold salary or take salary in return in the deal. The Habs could also send Joe Veleno to the waivers, should they ever need to go after a left-handed center.In short, there are solutions to make even more room.

That’s why, no, the Habs wouldn’t have to send salary to Seattle if Kent Hughes ever decided to go after Jared McCann, for example.

Because yes, McCann is among the Habs’ potential targets right now, and

[content-ads]And on paper, it’s easy to see why. After all, he has many qualities that might be attractive to a club like the Montreal Canadiens. McCann earns five million dollars a year for another two years. He’s 29 years old. He’s left-handed. He’s 6’1. He’s scored 60 or more points in his last three seasons, including a 40-goal, 70-point year. He can play center on a regular basis.

(Credit: Hockey DB)

However, he plays a little more on the wing, notably because of his performance (44.7%) in the face-off circle. But apart from this detail (which is more important than one might think, that said), McCann could be a logical target for the Habs. He could be available, and if the price is right, I expect the Canadiens to have their nose in the matter. Just in case…[spacer title=’Overtime’]- Patrick Roy for me. But there’s no wrong answer, I think.– No panic in the Alouettes dressing room. [98.5 FM] – Ouch

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Lane Hutson and Team Canada: Brad Marchand gets involved

Rob Hutson has found a way to get people talking about him this week, anyway. He’s no doubt realized that saying publicly that his son, beloved by Montreal Canadiens fans, could play for Team Canada is an eeeeeeexcellent way to get people talking about him. In Montreal, people were already up in arms over his exclusion from the U.S. Olympic observation camp. And let’s just say that the father (who’s just as angry, if not more, than the Montreal fans) has added fuel to the fire. Let’s put itthis way,and there’s one guy who’s jumped on the bandwagon: Brad Marchand. The Panthers player, who recently took part in the Four Nations Confrontation representing Canada, has an opinion on the situation.

[content-ads]Basically, on a post related to the topic of Rob Hutson’s statements about his son, Marchand wrote that we should “keep this guy in check” in comments. Basically, to keep someone “in check” means to keep him under control, or prevent him from becoming too powerful. You might think that Marchand is talking about Lane, but the truth is that he’s probably talking about Rob, Lane’s father, who has simply talked too much publicly.After all, I don’t see why Marchand would say that against Lane.

–

Everyone’s starting to wonder just how far Lane Hutson’s father is taking things, which would be a problem for the future. Oh, by the way: Lane Hutson recently filed his papers to represent the United States at the Olympics. If he’s selected, he’ll be playing for his country. spacer title=’en rafale’]- The Blue Jays had a close

yesterday.

– Reminder: it’s already started in the KHL.

– Ken Dryden: tributes continue.

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Carey Price never wanted to be a burden on the team

The news of the weekend is the trade of Carey Price’s contract to the San Jose Sharks.As I wrote yesterday, the goaltender has given and sacrificed a lot for the Canadiens organization.In an article by Arpon Basu published on The Athletic, we learn how throughout his career, Price never wanted to be a liability for the Habs.

For the man who has carried the burden of the Habs’ success throughout his career, the hockey player has always strived not to become an extra burden for the team.

Year after year, the goaltender has strived to make the Habs competitive despite the lack of offensive support.

His performances often allowed the team to finish higher than it should have, and consequently prevented them from drafting the players who could have really helped Price win the Stanley Cup. So in 2022, after a last-ditch attempt to return to the game, when the goaltender realized that he would no longer play hockey, he also knew that he had become a $10.5 million-a-year burden for the Habs.

[The rebuild has made the situation manageable for the organization, but if the team had been competitive at the time, this contract could have seriously complicated matters for the team, so the news of his trade must come as something of a relief for the retiree, who knows he’ll no longer be a problem for his former club.

Incidentally, in the same article, Basu discusses a situation from 2018 that shows how Price was there for his teammates. Karl Alzner, who was going through a rough patch at the time, was healthy scratch and working overtime after practice.

Basu discussed the defenseman’s situation with Price in the locker room, and when the reporter interviewed Alzner, the goalie stayed in the locker room for long minutes to make sure the discussion was going well. Although anecdotal, this example shows how Price cared about his teammates, especially in difficult times, and thought of his team first and foremost.

[spacer title=’En rafale’] –

– Post-game comments.

– What a steal!

– Congratulations to Carmelo Anthony!

– He’ll play forward and defense.

– The famous Banjo Bowl!

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Will the Habs finish ahead of the Leafs? | Pronman, Fox and the Hutson brothers

Things have been hopping in Toronto in recent months. The same could be said for Montreal.

But we all agree that things haven’t stirred in the same way, and that the way things have moved in Montreal is unquestionably more positive.

And it may not be over yet!

Kent Hughes still has the resources to complete a transaction that will make the Habs an even more superior team in October or later this fall.

Let’s compare the two realities and the possible additions for these two great rivals.

A more defensive and truculent Leafs…Despite Auston Matthews being hampered by injury for most of the season – I know, I had him in my pool! – the Leafs had a superb campaign last year.

But no club suffered a greater loss than Mitch Marner.

[content-ads]It’s nothing against Nicolas Roy, one of the NHL’s good bottom-six players, or Easton Cowan, a legitimate forward prospect, or the possible resurrection of Matias Maccelli in Ontario, but the departure of Toronto’s little wizard completely changes the Leafs’ offense.

The ” Core Four ” is no more, and the “window of opportunity” officially begins to close in the Queen City. The defense, despite the fine addition of Brandon Carlo, and the offense are slowly but surely aging, the succession is slim and Matthews has only three years left on his contract..

In short, maybe the Leafs, who will be betting more on defense and proverbial truculence, will still be ahead of the Habs next spring, but maybe not..

And let’s just say that, unlike Montreal, nobody sees them as favourites to win the Cup in 2029-2030 or before..

[content-ads]An exciting Habs with the wind in their sailsWe’ve been talking and analyzing the additions of Dobson and Bolduc all summer.

Nothing but positives! The Habs have added two players to their core without sacrificing anything they absolutely wanted in return.

There was also (much) less talk about the departures of effective veterans Dvorak and Armia, and the sacrifice of Heineman.

But let’s not forget other “additions” that could compensate for these losses and make a positive difference over an entire season… including two recent top 5 draft picks!

A first season for DemidovFor one, Demidov will be playing his first full season and, following in Hutson’s footsteps, is the clear favorite to win the Calder .

We’re not saying that Demidov will necessarily be a “star” or “superstar” player in his first season, as was the case with Hutson, but he might not be too far off those statuses. He will certainly be an impact player, superior to the average NHL player. A 20-goal, 40-assist season seems quite realistic, and perhaps a little conservative in his case..

[content-ads]He who should be the fourth most-used forward, will steal “offensive” minutes from players like Dach and Newhook. At least one of these two will have no choice but to play on the third line and/or lose powerplay minutes.

That said, it wouldn’t be at all awkward to bet on players like Dach and Newhook on a third line. In the end, it would compare rather well with the Dvoraks and Armias of this world in those chairs…

But more importantly, the additions of Demidov and Bolduc alone should generate around 45 goals. That’s some 20 more goals than the Armia-Dvorak duo. Provided they don’t account for too many goals against, there’s a huge potential net gain here.

Given that the other forwards are having seasons pretty much living up to expectations, the arrival of the Bolduc-Demidov duo should be enough for the Habs to present one of the NHL’s 10-12 best offenses, a first since the 2014-2015 season, during the “great Pacioretty years”…

[content-ads]Roy is in great shape…Speaking of “additions”, here’s one we shouldn’t bury too quickly. In very, very good shape, if Joshua Roy performs well at camp and is asked to play a role similar to Joel Armia’s on the third or fourth line, would we really be surprised if he had a 30-point season?

Roy remains a talented player with an above-average sense of anticipation. With a better focus on his career, more speed and explosion, watch out…

With the departures of Dvorak, Armia and Heineman, he could even eventually become a solution on the power play. We’ll see…

[content-ads]The “other” top 5 pick…Last but not least, David Reinbacher is an addition that is still uncertain as of today, but one that is by no means negligible. When he is ready, he will radically change the face of the defensive brigade.

When the Austrian, selected 5th overall in 2023, settles in Montreal for good, whether this fall or winter, the Habs will be even more clearly in the top third of the league’s best defensive brigades. It will have achieved the “Holy Grail” at the blue line by being able to dress not only three left-handers and three right-handers, but also by presenting a perfect balance between “offensive” and “defensive” backs.

So, not only will the team have replaced the loss of a washed-up Savard with a star defenseman in Dobson, it will eventually be able to replace a “decent” back like Struble with an impact defenseman with a superior hockey IQ in Reinbacher.

It’s only a matter of time… and a 100%-recovered knee!

In short, given a relatively healthy club, with its anticipated gains in offense and defense, I fully agree with Mathias Brunet and find it hard to see how the Habs could field a worse lineup in 2025-2026.

Few teams will add two top-5 picks to their roster this year…[content-ads]Pronman, Fox and the Hutson brothers

Lane Hutson’s historic season and Calder Trophy didn’t change a thing. By dropping him from 39th position in February to 34th this week, Corey Pronman still places a pocketful of “dubious” players ahead of him in his famous U23 rankings.

Of course, everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but that doesn’t mean all opinions are equal. But that doesn’t mean that all opinions are equal. They must take into account the obvious and the facts, and respect a certain logic while avoiding bias and prejudice

This is the basis. That’s what we teach at school.

[content-ads]In a pinch, why not have the Habs’ #48 in Pronman’s top 10?

Even if I don’t agree, it’s defensible. Maybe with difficulty for certain choices, but it can be defended.

Excluded from his top 15?

Yep.

Would you really take Dylan Guenther, Logan Cooley, Wyatt Johnston, Michael Misa and Sam Dickinson over Hutson?

Not for me, but let’s just say that the question may arise for some of them..

[content-ads]But the fact that, from positions 16 to 33, Porter Martone, Mason McTavish, Matty Beniers, Will Smith, Berkley Catton, Caleb Desnoyers, Artyom Levshunov, Kent Johnson, James Hagens, Shane Wright, Anton Frondell, Owen Power, William Eklund, Jake O’Brien, Zayne Parekh, Carter Yakemchuk, Beckett Sennecke and Anton Silayev are all placed ahead of Lane Hutson defies belief!

And above all, Pronman isn’t helping his cause by comparing Lane Hutson to Adam Fox to defend his choice!

The Rangers’ superstar would already be a highly respectable, enviable, even unhoped-for comparable for many people ahead of Hutson on his list.

So, to begin with, his logic doesn’t hold water.

The Blue Shirts’ fullback has already won the Norris (2020-2021) and has just put together five stellar seasons of 70 (prorated over 82 games), 74, 72, 73 and 61 points, while combining a positive differential of +90 during that period!

Differential is obviously a limited statistic, but even in last year’s crooked Manhattan club, he found a way to finish the campaign at +9, tied for second on his team!

And beyond the differential he has this even more telling statistic about the quality of Fox’s play and impact at 5-on-5…

[content-ads]But the worst thing (for Pronman) is that Hutson could become better than Fox!

Anyway, at 20-21 in his first year in the NHL, he had 24 more points than Fox at 21-22.

Not 3, 4 more points, no, 24!

At least Pronman seems to have learned a bit from Lane’s brother Cole, whom he bumped up from 95th to 43rdon his most recent U23list… For my money, Cole may be just a tick below Zeev Buium, whom Pronman now ranks 5th.

In fact, to be more accurate, Pronman is just sticking to the same family pattern (and the same prejudice against “little” defensemen), since before ranking Lane in his U23 top 40 in February, he still had him at… 87th last September!

Quite comical!

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McDavid is open to “a long-term, short-term or no-term deal”

Connor McDavid is the best hockey player on the planet. His talent is undeniable, and his current situation is attracting attention for logical reasons. After all, the Oilers captain is entering the final year of his contract in Edmonton… and he still hasn’t signed a contract extension as of today. Is it going to happen? Earlier this week, onTSN radio, Pierre LeBrun said that Oilers fans could start to worry at the start of the season if McDavid hasn’t reached an agreement with his club. And when McDavid talks like that openly… it must be a bit stressful for fans in Edmonton:

all options are on the table, whether it’s a long-term deal, a short-term deal or no deal at all.

–

Connor McDavid

Clearly, McDavid is open to all avenues,but hearing him say this is not reassuring for Oilers management.

[content-ads] At 28, Connor McDavid has one goal in mind:to win the Stanley Cup.For two years in a row, he’s made it to the finals only to see his club lose to the Florida Panthers. For two years in a row, he’s experienced the ultimate disappointment for a hockey player, and that’s sure to play a role in his decision in the end. Because therein lies the rub: the Oilers have to show him that he can win in Edmonton. If they want to see him sign a long-term contract, they have to make sure they surround him with the right people and give him the tools he needs to have the best possible chance of lifting the precious trophy. But seeing the file drag on the table may also force a few teams to change their plans.

It’s obvious: if McDavid becomes available, clubs will be lining up for his services… and that’s likely to shake things up quite a bit in the NHL, as Elliotte Friedman discussed on his podcast.

This is an issue to keep an eye on, and it’s likely to take on even greater importance in the coming days and weeks.Especially if he doesn’t sign a contract extension before the start of the season… [spacer title=’Overtime’] – Absolutely.

– Interesting.

– Your pick?

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Ken Dryden has passed away

Sad news: last night, the Canadiens announced the death of Ken Dryden. The legendary goaltender passed away after a battle with cancer at the age of 78. #TooYoung Obviously, this news affects a lot of people. Dryden helped the Canadiens win six Stanley Cups as a goaltender in the 70’s and his reputation is huge in Montreal. He will always be remembered as a great player in the organization, but also a great person.

[content-ads] In 2014, Dryden was on hand at the Bell Centre for the team’s opening game.

Ken Dryden

Ken Dryden, in total, played eight years. He spent eight seasons in the National League… and won six Stanley Cups in the process. No worse average… especially considering he lost only 57 regular-season games in his career (out of 397). It also explains why his number 29 was retired from the heights of the Bell Centre on January 29, 2007. The Canadiens wanted to honor him, and they did so in the right way. Ken Dryden is one of the Canadiens’ all-time greats… but he’s also one of the greatest in the history of the NHL. And learning that he’s gone will never change the fact that he’ll remain one of the greatest goaltenders in NHL history.

[spacer title=’Prolongation’] I forgot… Dryden has six Stanley Cup rings, but he also won the Vézina Trophy five times in his career. He also won a Conn Smtyhe… and the Calder Trophy in his first season in the league. He’s truly a legend, Ken Dryden.

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Michel Therrien officially announces his retirement

Michel Therrien has just announced his retirement on 98.5 FM’s Amateurs du sport

The former coach seems to have given his decision a great deal of thought. Therrien feels that he needs to move on to another stage in his life, and enjoy the freedom from obligations and commitments. He could be seen on TVA Sports as a speaker at the Canadiens’ Saturday night game. But, in addition to preparation, Therrien often missed time with his wife, who had to dine alone on Saturdays. This was one of the sacrifices demanded by his profession in the media.

So, at 61, he chose to step down from his analyst duties to concentrate on his marriage and his health. Therrien says he’s in better shape than ever, but wants to concentrate on treating his back problems [content-ads]. His goal is simply to enjoy life. Michel Therrien has had a storied career in hockey. The Montreal native began his hockey career in the 1980s, but never played higher than the AHL.

He really came into his own as a coach, first in the QMJHL and then with the Fredericton Canadiens in the AHL, before getting his first chance in the NHL with the Canadiens.

After the CH, the coach got a second chance with the Pittsburgh Penguins, first with their school club in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and then with the big club, which he took to the Stanley Cup Final in 2008. Therrien got a second chance with the Canadiens as he returned to lead the team from 2012 to 2017.

In 2019, he accepted the position of assistant to Alain Vigneault, then coach of the Philadelphia Flyers. Since then, he has worked mainly as a game analyst on TVA Sports. Although Therrien never won the ultimate honors in the NHL, he had a remarkable career wherever he went. In short, we wish him a happy retirement! [spacer title=’Overtime’] – An option for the Habs?

– The Jays win in the Bronx.

– Three more hits for Bo Bichette.

– He’s in!

– Chargers lead at halftime.

KCvsLAC

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Carey Price had to agree to lift his non-movement clause to be traded

The news of the day is the trade of Carey Price to the San Jose Sharks. Once again, Kent Hughes has made a good trade for the Canadiens, as the CEO paid far less than most experts expected by giving away a fifth-round pick to get rid of Price’s contract worth $10.5 million a year.

This gives the Habs some leeway on their payroll , which could allow them to acquire a second center. However, for the Habs to trade their former goaltender, he had to agree to be traded to San Jose.

Yes, it was a technicality for him, but I think it can also be seen as the retiree’s final farewell gift to his former organization. By the way, even though Price will officially end his career on the Sharks payroll, he will forever be associated with the Montreal Canadiens.

I wouldn’t be surprised if the club signed him to a one-day contract next year so that he could officially retire as a member of the Habs. The goaltender has given so much to the organization throughout his career, including sacrificing his physical health to lead the team to the Stanley Cup Final in 2021.

[content-ads] One wonders how the Canadiens will honour the career of their former star.

Detractors will always say that Price didn’t win the Stanley Cup, but when you look at his entire career with the teams ahead of him, you quickly realize that the goalie was one of the best of his generation.

And instead of wanting to go and win the big honours elsewhere, Price preferred to stay in Montreal and made the team better year after year. Will the Habs give their former goalkeeper the ultimate honour and retire his jersey?

Personally, I think number 31 belongs in the heights of the Bell Centre even if he never won the Cup, but that’s probably a discussion for later.

[spacer title=’Overtime’] – Reunited at last!

– Now that’s funny!

Iconic

– What a race!

– And what a hit!